Private languages

Geoffrey Williams (geoffrey.williams who-is-at english.su.edu.au)
3 May 1996 08:55:24 +1000

Can anybody help with this query from a colleague, please? I've mentioned
Michael Halliday's work on antilanguages in Language as social semiotic, and
Luria's work on the language of the isolated twins. Anybody know of anything
else? If you would like to reply direct Ivor's address is:
indyk who-is-at ozemail.com.au
Thanks
Geoff

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Date: 1/5/96 1:32 PM
From: Ivor Indyk
Geoff,

Do you know anybody working in the field of "private languages". There is a
poet down in Melbourne called Jiavant Biarujia who developed his own language
- which he calls Taneraic - when he was a teenager. He has now produced a
grammar and lexicon (A-D, more promised shortly) of Taneraic, lest he forget
it, and it disappears from the face of the earth. I thought the grammar and
lexicon (it's really only a pamphlet) might provide an interesting starting
point for a discussion about this whole phenomenon of the private language -
but I have a feeling that linguists don't regard this as a legitimate topic.

Any recommendations gratefully received.

Best wishes,
Ivor